Improvement in coal-scuttles



UNITED STATES PATENT Fracc,

RICHARD M. STEELE, OF ROMULUS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND R. J. HUNT, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN COAL-SCUTTLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,5 l5', dated J uly 13, 1875 application -led October 30, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD M. STEELE, of Romulus, in the county of Seneca and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Hed, Dust and Ashes Sitter; and I do hereby declare that the Afollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ot' reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

This invention vrelates to a combined coalhod and dust and ashes sifter, whereby the device is rendered convenient and simple inits construction, and durable in use, and not liable to get out of repair; and it consists inthe peculiar construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out by the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the coal-hod, with lids closed, showing in crosssection the screen, or dust and ashes sitter, at the bottom, the ashes or dust receptacle below the screen, and the spring that holds the lid of such ashes or dust receptacle. Fig. 2 shows a top view of the coal-hod with the lids or covers closed, the hinges connecting the latter with the main body of the coal-hod, the bail or handle, and the hooks or catches upon the lids or covers, that engage with the handle when the latter is raised. Fig is also a top view, looking ainto said coal-hod, with the screen at bottom, and the lids or covers raised and heldin position by means of the bail of the coal-hod.

A represents the hod 5 B. the screen; G, the receptacle for dust and ashes. e is a springcatch, adjusted so as to engage with the mova y-le bottom or lid, (the latter hinged at cl,) holding it in position, as seen in Fig. l, by retracting the spring e. The lid or bottom is permitted to drop or fall down, held only by the hinge d, when the dust and ashes contained therein can be deposited in any convenient place. By shaking or rapidly turning the hod by-the hand, the dust or ashes settles to the bottom, and the coal is placed in stove or grate without lling the room with dust. The screen B is secured in position by laps or pieces welded to the sides of hod and to the screen, or in any other convenient manner. The lids or covers are hinged to the hod at it' M, Figs. 1 and 2, and when raised, as seen in Fig. 3, and held in position by the bail b, they form a shield or support to the hod, and enable a much larger quantity of coal to be carried by the hod, and at the same time prevent the coal from falling from the hod when it is being put into a stove or grate. By

this mode of construction the hod acts in a double capacity of coal-carrier and ashessitter, and when the latter operation is performed there is no v possibility ot' losing or wasting any of the small or unburnt pieces of coal, that, from their size, are not allowed to pass into the receptacle for dust 'and ashes. The divided cover being provided with the catches a a near the center, the bail b may be detached from the catches when desired, so that the covers may remain closed, while the bail b may be raised without raising the lid a, which is desirable when sifting, to keep the dust from rising from the top ot' the hod, while it may be necessary to have the bail up, as shown in Fig. 2.

Iam aware that hods have been used with screens in the bottom, and also used with catches on the lids to operate by the motion of the bail, and I do not therefore, broadly, claim such device; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the lids a', catches t a, placed near the center of the lids, and bail b, all 'arranged as described, to allow the bail to be raised without raising the lids, or used to A hold the lids open, all as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signature in the presence ot' two Witnesses.

RICHARD M. STEELE, Witnesses:

J oHN W. SNooK, FRANE: A. SAYEE. 

